Sidemount Diver I (Recreational, OW) Diver’s Profile: This is an advanced open water diver with some basic experience, having beforehand obtained an Advanced Open Water Diving Certification who wants to further enhance his/her competence as well as his/her distance range by using 2 tanks in sidemount configur ation instead of traditional back- mount configuration, but still in open water. Another reason might be medical considerations (i.e. lumbar disc herniation) Aims & Objectives of the course: This course is designed to expose the advanced OW - diver to alternative cylinder and harness configu- rations when back - mounted cylinders are not appropriate or available or usable . Though considerably more complex than standard back - mount diving, side - mount has clear advantages. Only the side mount diver is truly self - reliant. But, the inherent gas management, trim and complexity of diving in- dependent cylinders present a challenge to even the most experienced back - mount diver. This course - and competence level is a mandatory prerequisite for Sidemount Diver II (OW ). Content: Safety practices, procedures, conservation, gas management, equipment modification/philosophy, trim, streamlining, finning techniques, problem management, task loading, psychological aspects and how to build a "sidemount rig" , air - sharing. Training is strictly limited to the OW environment! Course Classification: The Sidemount Diver I Course is a BASIC and purely RECre - ational specialty diving course. Prerequisites and Requirements: a) Prerequisites Age: 16 years OW - certificate: CMAS 2star Diver or equivalent (fulfilling EN 14153 - 2) Number of previous OW - dives: 25 of which 5 must have been made within 2 months prior to course Other mandatory prerequisites: valid medical attest (fitness for diving), not older than SCD rules or national legislation require (mostly <=1year) Other recommended certificates: CMAS Nitrox Diver or equivalent, Stage Tank Handling Course Further requirements: Equipment as requested under “Personal equipment” b) Course duration and structure Min. duration: 2.5 days (classroom and practical OW sessions may be sepa - rated up to 2 weeks to let students adapt and fine - tune their configuration and try some of the skill exercises for them - selves first).) Min classroom: 0.5 days (4 hrs) Min. prac tical: 2.0 days. Min. number of training dives: 4 dives at 2 different sites (different entries/exits) ; depth range 10 - 40m, related to OW diver level of participants Sidemount Diver I (Recreational, OW) c) Requirements for instructors and assistants Min. level for instructor: SCD Sidemount Diving Instructor I Min level for assistants: CMAS 3star Diver or equivalent (fulfilling EN 14153 - 3 ) + Sidemount Diver II (SCD or equivalent) + 25 logged sidemount dives since Sidemount Diver II certifica - tion d) Student : instructor ratios Max. student : instructor ratio classroom: 10:1 Max. student : instructor ratio open water: 4:1 under optimal conditions (visibility, current, temperature); otherwise 2:1 1 assistant accounts for max. 2 more students (under good conditions, otherwise max. 1 additional student per 1 assis - tant), but a maximum of 2 assistants are allowed to form a di - ving class together with the instructor in charge e) Evaluation Theory exam : 20 questions (1 5 MC, 5 calculations); 80% passing score Exam should be done preferably after OW session 1 Practical evaluation : Continuing and permanent evaluation based on standardized exercises. Min. passing score is C (on scale of A – E) . f) Training Environment/ Gas Environment for training: any suitable OW site, near shore! Max. depth: according to certification level of participants; max depths: CMAS 2star or equivalent: 30m nominal CMAS 3star or equivalent: 40m nominal Gas for training: air or any suita ble Ntx mixture accord. to depth, if students are certified accordingly ; no Tmx! Max. O2 partial pressure: 1.40bar for bottom / 1.60bar for deco Stage decompression required: no true stage decompression allowed; only simulated deco stops g) Personal Equipment Students - any suitable OW - diving suit (wet or dry), boots, gloves, hood - standard OW masks, fins, instruments - special sidemount harness with some kind of BC (integrated or separate); min. lifting capacity (vol- ume): 16 liters - 2 com pletely independent regulator rigs with SPG and requested inflator hoses for BC and dry suit (if any) - each tank must be equipped with a submersible pressure gauge (electronic or mechanical) - 2 primary tanks with mono - outlet valves; DIN outlets only; min size: 2 x 7 liters / 200bar (steel, alu, steel - composite) or 2800 NL - 2 SMB (orange and yellow) if requested by law or local diving regulations - recommended: 1 long hose of approx. 1.5m length (5 ft) in bright color, to be carried on right tank Sidemount Diver I (Recreational, OW) Course fees Refer to the yearly training course schedule overview on the Swiss Cave Diving website. Course dates By arrangement; course will be held with at least 2 participants. All actual course dates: ref. to the yearly training course schedule overview on the Swiss Cave Diving website. Certification - SCD double - sided C - card - Wall certificate in A4 - format Insurance Is in the personal responsibility of each participant. Training/instruction competencies none Quality Control Complian ce with SCD Standards and the relevant procedures. Additional information: www.swiss - cave - diving.ch or Beat Müller: [email protected] .